New Delhi: The budget session of Parliament has been extended by three days as the Centre prepares to introduce an amendment to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The special session will focus on enabling women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies before the 2027 census is completed.
The original constitutional amendment was passed in 2023 but linked implementation to delimitation and census exercises. Under those provisions, the rollout could have been delayed until 2034. The government now plans to move ahead using data from the 2011 census.
What the amendment proposes
The amendment seeks to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in both Parliament and state assemblies without waiting for the next census cycle. It also proposes expanding the Lok Sabha to 816 seats, with 273 seats reserved for women.
If passed, the first elections under this system are expected in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat and Uttarakhand.
Special majority required
As a constitutional amendment, the bill needs a special majority. It must secure support from a majority of the total members of the House and at least two-thirds of members present and voting.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to political parties for support to pass the amendment. The government has framed the move as necessary to ensure timely implementation of women’s representation.
Opposition questions timing
The Opposition, led by the Congress, has raised concerns over the timing and intent of the move. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to the Prime Minister and accused the Centre of rushing the amendment for “political mileage” ahead of elections in four states.
Kharge also pointed out that the bill had earlier received unanimous support in 2023, yet its implementation was delayed.
Whip issued for MPs
The Bharatiya Janata Party has issued a whip directing all its MPs to be present in Parliament from April 16 to 18. The party has made attendance mandatory and said no leave will be granted.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has also urged members to maintain decorum during the session. He said, “We have issued a bulletin for this, and I have personally appealed to all Members within Parliament, as well as to all political parties. It was discussed at the Business Advisory Committee meetings too that the use of banners, placards, unparliamentary language, and sloganeering is not befitting of a democracy,” PTI reported.